Monza Death Inquiry Threatens New Legal Row

A public prosecutor's inquiry into the death of a fire marshal at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday could re-open the debate over safety at Italian Formula One race tracks.

Monza public prosecutor Salvatore Bellomo is handling the inquiry, less than a year after the court case over Ayrton Senna's fatal crash at Imola in 1994 was brought to a close.

Bellomo has interviewed five drivers who were involved in Sunday's opening lap pile-up at the second chicane. Paolo Gislimberti died after being hit by debris from the smash.

The 33-year-old received emergency treatment from first aid staff at the track side, before being taken to the course medical centre and then to a Monza hospital where he died.

State Prosecutor Begins Investigation

Italian media reports said the five interviewed were the Jordan pair Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli, David Coulthard of McLaren, Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari and Pedro de la Rosa of Arrows.

The drivers' cars were being held pending a decision on whether they would be impounded as part of the investigation.

Barrichello said the prosecutor had been looking for information on the cause of the pile-up.

"He asked me what happened and who ran into me from behind. I was questioned as a witness," Barrichello told the Italian news agency ANSA.

It is not yet clear whether Bellomo will press for a court case over the death or what kind of charge could be brought.

But the sight of an Italian public prosecutor interviewing drivers will have given the sport's officials a sharp reminder of the five-year legal wrangle that followed Senna's death.

Echoes Of Senna Trial

The triple world champion's crash at the San Marino Grand Prix threatened the future of Formula One races in Italy.

Senna, driving for Williams, headed straight off the track and hit a concrete barrier at 220 kph.

Team chief Frank Williams, designer Adrian Newey and technical director Patrick Head were all charged with manslaughter, as were three track officials.

The prosecuting magistrate claimed a poor weld on Senna's steering column had snapped as the Brazilian entered a curve, causing him to lose control of his car, a claim strongly denied by Williams.

All six accused were acquitted. However, the prosecution launched an appeal demanding one-year suspended sentences for both Head and Newey. That appeal was finally rejected by a court in November 1999.

Teams Wait For Prosecutor's Decision

Four other cases over the last 40 years involving fatal crashes at Italian motor events have all ended in acquittals.

But the fact that Italian authorities took the Senna case to court dismayed racing authorities, who warned that teams might not come to Italy if they risked conviction in the event of accidents.

Leading figures in Formula One argued that motor racing was a dangerous sport and that organisers should be exempt from any liability of serious injuries or deaths.

Now the sport will be anxiously waiting to hear whether the Monza public prosecutor decides to press for charges.

As well as Bellomo's investigation, Formula One's governing body, the FIA, has requested a full report on the incident from the Italian sports authorities.